.png){kind=logo}
Available Speakers
...you can call on for your next event!
​
Throughout our years we have had community speakers present on a diversity of topics. Scroll down to see a handful of these speakers. Click on their topic to hear a small clip of their presentation for a sneak peek. Feel free to contact any of them.
​
Steven Adams
Librarian for Graduate and Postdoctoral Initiatives at Northwestern University
Email: smadams@northwestern.edu
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
The Role of Curiosity in Building Inclusive Organizations​​​​​
STRATEGIC INFLUENCE: HARNESSING INFLUENCE TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES
​
Victoria Akinde
Director of Organizational Development and Diversity
Northwestern University
Email: vakinde@gmail.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Challenging the Status Quo, Resilience, The Growth Mindset and How to Develop and Strengthen Yours, Challenging Myths and Assumptions​​​​​
RECLAIM YOUR INNER IDENTITY TO HAVE THE AUDACITY TO THINK BIG AND THE CONFIDENCE TO TRANSFORM CHANGE
​​Payal Beri
Founder of RK Empathy
Email: payal@rkempathy.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
The Ego + EQ: Why You Need Both, Empathy is a Strength of Leadership, Power of Words and Creating an Inclusive Culture​​​​​
​
Dr. Susy Francis Best
Speaker, International Bestselling Author, Executive Leadership Business Consultant, Coach and Strategist at Thrive Group International
Email: drsusy@thrivegroupinternational.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Being the CEO of Your Own Career, Managing Your Brand, Neuroscience of Leadership​​​​​
RACE, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ANATOMY OF AN APOLOGY
​​
Tony Bradburn
Principal of Sunny Hill Elementary School
​​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Culturally Responsive Leading and Teaching Practices, Microaggressions, Bias, The N word: How is it a compliment and an insult?, Strategies to Interrupt Racist Incidents, Intercultural Development, White and Non-White Racial Identity Development and Its Impact
LEADING WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
​
Nicole Harris
CEO and President of Leading2Empower, LLC
Email: Info@leading2empower.com
Visit Leading2Empower's website
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Conflict Resolution, Leading through Adversity, Strategies with winning with people​​​​
CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS: HOW 'KEEPING IT REAL' MAKES FOR AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STYLE
​
Orla Castanien
Principal, Leaders Roadmap
Email: orla@yourleadersroadmap.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Navigating Conflict - producing effective outcomes, Executive Presence - peeling back the layers to understand what it really means, Developing High-Performing Teams - the myths and the realities, Keeping it Real - Tap into your unique brand of authentic leadership and why it matters
​​
Annmarie Chereso
Founder and Coach at BringIt! Home
Email: annmarie@bringithome.me
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Drop the Drama: How to be empowered in your relationships at home and work, Everyday Mindfulness: What is it & Why should I care?, Beyond Mindfulness: Four questions to cultivate more awareness, Trading Stress and Anxiety for Empowerment and Purpose, Success Starts with SELFawarenes, End Gossip and speak with Candor, Mindful Leadership: What does it mean to be a conscious leader
​​​​​​
THE SOURCE OF OUR BEHAVIORS: UNRAVELING THE 'WHY' BEHIND OUR ACTIONS
​​
Zuica Donev
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services D70
Email: zd@mn8consulting.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
The Neuroscience of Learning and Behavior, Navigating Conflict in Professional and Personal Relationships,
The Enneagram as a Tool for Personal and Team Development, Maximizing Strengths for Individual and Team Success using Strengths Finder,
Stress Management and Resilience
LEARNING LEADERSHIP THROUGH IMPROV
​
Nick Filipwoski
Principal of Julian Middle School in Oak Park
​
Other Topics They Speak On: Rumbling with Vulnerability
SELF-CARE: THE SECRET TO GREATER IMPACT​
​
Jen Frey
Life Coach, Jen Frey Coaching
Email: jenfreycoaching@gmail.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Leadership Development, Overcoming Perfection as a Leader, Time Management, Mental Fitness for Leaders, Overcoming Burnout, Self-Coaching for Leaders, How to Improve Your Networking
Tynisha Gardner
ALCA President & CEO, Consultant, Transformative Leader
Email: tgardner@alcagirls.org
Other Topics They Speak On: Being a Present Leader, Unlocking Trust through Transparency, Staying in Your Lane "Don't take a Detour", The Task Can't be More Important Than the Impact, Stop Being Common to Make Others Comfortable: "Your Voice Matters"
EMBRACING VULNERABILITY AT WORK TO EMPOWER YOU IN YOUR ROLE
​
Adam Harris
Head of Communications and Storytelling for Arlington Heights School District 25
Email: aharris@sd25.org
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Vulnerability in Storytelling
FEEL TO LEAD: THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN LEADERSHIP
​
Jessica Kazaniwskyj
Trauma-Informed Emotional Intelligence Expert and Visionary Coach
Email: hello@risebeyondyourroots.com
Visit Rise Beyond Your Roots Inc.
​
Other Topics They Speak On: Discovering your core values (your personal code of ethics), How to uncover your superpowers and shine your light, How to become more comfortable being visible online​​​​
CREATING PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY TEAMS TO SUPPORT HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS ​​
​
Grace Lichtenstein
Founder, Grace and Success
Email: grace@graceandsuccess.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Grace teaches a variety of general soft skills (e.g. communication, leadership and team building, conflict management, stress management) as well as more clinical topics (e.g. suicide risk assessment and prevention, crisis management, mental health in the workplace, trauma-informed care) to both healthcare professionals and those outside the fields of medicine, psychology, and social work​​​​
​
Marcos Levy
Facilities & Security Manager at Wilmette Public Library
Email: mlevy@wilmettelibrary.info
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Learning How to Forgive, The Power of the Tongue, How to Love Deeply, Relation Building, Values, Learning to Love Yourself, Having the Courage to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone, Building Your Own Self-Worth, Building Trust​​​​​
​
Sheri Miller
Founder, BeDo Leadership
Formerly Founder, Executive Director, and Executive Coach for The Charmm'd Foundation
Email: sheri.BeDoLeadership@outlook.com
Connect on LinkedIn
​
Other Topics They Speak On: DISC, Driving Forces, Emotional Intelligence, and the accompanying assessments
THE STORY I'M TELLING MYSELF: THE POWER OF HOLDING PONDERING SPACE FOR OUR INTERNAL CONFLICTS
​
Cheri Neal
Certified Professional Coach | Mental Fitness Trainer and 3 Vital Questions Trainer
Email: cheri@cherineal.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On:
Transform Workplace Drama and Create Extraordinary Outcomes, How to Move from Crazy to Crazy Good, Mental Fitness: The Key Ingredient for a Healthy Organization,
Leading with Love: The Heart of Success,
Messages of the Monarch: How to Find Our Wings and Fly​​​​​
THE TOP 5 REASONS YOUR BOARD'S GIVE/GET IS LEAVING THOUSANDS (SOMETIMES MILLIONS) ON THE TABLE​​
Sherry Quam Taylor
CEO of QuamTaylor LLC
Email: sherry@quamtaylor.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On: Nonprofit Growth, Scaling Gen-Ops Revenue, Major-Gift Fundraising, High-ROI Development Teams
CREATING A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRUST: THE ART OF DELEGATION
Marcus Straub
Founder & CEO of LIG (Life Is Great!) Coaching and Consulting, Inc.
Email: marcus@ligcoaching.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On: Listening With Integrity, Empowered Communication, Recognizing and Speaking the Languages of Others, Exceptional Customer Service
'ACTIVATING' YOUR PEOPLE BY 'ANIMATING' YOUR LEADERSHIP
​
Rick Tamlyn
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and a Master Certified Coach (MCC) by the International Coach Federation (ICF), and is a senior trainer for The Coaches Training Institute
Email: ricktamlyn@me.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On: It's Time to Play Your Bigger Game, Becoming an "Edutainer"...not just an Educator, Life is All Made Up ...Let's Get On With It, Coaching Skills for Leaders, How Your Relationship With Everything Creates Everything
LGBTQIA+ DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE
​
Alex Versage
LGBTQIA+ Life Coaching at Rainbow Wellness and Life Coaching
Email: alex@rainbowmentalhealthsvcs.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On: Alex speaks on many topics related to the LGBTQIA+ community. They present to a wide variety of audience members ranging from parents and caregivers to school administrations, community leaders, and corporate organizations.
UNDERSTANDING OUR BEHAVIORS AND MINDSET TO NAVIGATE 'DIFFICULT' CONVERSATIONS
​
Ashley Ward
Principal, Beyond Coaching & Consulting
Formerly the Director of Community Development for The Charmm'd Foundation
Email: ashley@beyondcoach-consult.com
​
Other Topics They Speak On: DISC, Driving Forces, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building and Workplace Culture​​​​​